20 September 2011

On Saturday the 17th September 2011 a fair few people dressed up and wandered over to the HMV Institute in Birmingham for Enchanted Burlesque's lastest show, a musical concert featuring bizarre cabaret sensation Mister Joe Black. Come the end of the night, which also featured the musical talents of Bitter Ruin and Mister Meredith, a lot of people had laughed, cheered and tried not to be too embarressed by some rather interesting and racey songs. The audience also ended up contributing a nice bundle of money for UK Disaster Relief.

Show organiser Angel LaVey and her husband initially organised the event as a money making venture, but after the recent riots tore through Birmingham city centre they felt they had to do something to help those affected. Birmingham has been Angel's home for most of her life and is also where Enchanted Burlesque runs events. UK Disaster Relief was the perfecty charity to support, set up in response to the riots and aiming to target the areas most in need. All the money raised by Enchanted Burlesque will go to help those affected in the West Midlands.

Now that Enchanted Burlesque and their loyal fans have done their bit for the local community it's back to business as usual, with a more traditional burlesque theatre show booked for the 31st March 2012 at the Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham. The show is called Enchanted Burlesque - Believe, quite apt since everyone involved the last show believed in supporting UK Disaster Relief.

15 September 2011

The musician Frank Turner has announced on his blog today that Xtra Mile Records have launched a new scheme - F*** The Fire - in response to the fire at PIAS Distribution Warehouse. More than 3 million records were destroyed, which Frank called a "body-blow for an industry that's already in fragile state.

Xtra Mile Records, in response, are organising small-scale pressings of old records that a minimum number of people have pledged to buy.

On top of this, Xtra Mile and Pledge Music will be donating a proportion of the money raised to UK Disaster Relief, to help those affected by the riots.

14 September 2011

There have now been over 600 items listed on eBay from which a proportion of the cost has been donated to UK Disaster Relief!

Money is raised for charities on eBay through MissionFish. When you sell an item, you can choose a listed charity to donate to. You can also search for items which are raising money for charities if you are a buyer, or donate when you reach checkout -plenty of opportunities to help UK Disaster Relief!

13 September 2011

UK Disaster Relief is aware of numerous charitable funds to which people have donated in the wake of the recent riots. Some were for individual cases, like the examples of Aaron Biber, the barber in Tottenham, or Ashraf Haziq, the Malaysian student. Other funds have been set up, by councils or individuals on a local level.

Have you donated to any of these funds? If so, please tell us which one, and why you chose to do so.

Also if you would like to donate, you can use UK Disaster Relief 's Charity Giving page.

12 September 2011

We are very grateful to everyone who has donated to UK Disaster Relief to help those affected by the recent riots, through Mission Fish, Every Click or through our Just Giving page. There will also be opportunities to give to UKDR over the next two weeks, by coming to one of our fundraising events in Birmingham, Clapham or Hackney.

While donations are always welcome, we also need your help in other ways. As part of our research, we want your opinion on what you would need if you lost your home and possessions in a disaster. Would you need cash, food, accommodation; and if so, how much? Please add your comments to this blog post.

If you were affected by the riots, also, and would like to share your experience, UK Disaster Relief would like to talk to you, so that we have the best picture of what provisions are necessary if another disaster occurs.

8 September 2011

Wandsworth Borough Council has appointed independent commissioner Neil Kinghan to look into "what happened and why" during the serious disorder in Clapham Junction, as well as the disturbances in Tooting and Balham.

Wandsworth Council are holding a series of public meetings in Battersea Arts Centre on 12th September, Samaj Hall, Tooting High St on 13th September and Wandsworth Civic Suite on 19th September. UK Disaster Relief will attend these meetings, so if you have any thoughts on the charitable response to the riots, please come and let us know

7 September 2011

Families affected by the recent riots have spoken to the Croydon Guardian today. Joan Smith, of Reeves Corner, speaks of her fear at having to leave her home after it was set alight. Carla Rees had to flee her home on the corner of London Road and St James Road. Ms Rees, who lost 15 flutes in the fire is grateful to Myall Music Store who have set up a collection fund for her. Mrs Smith is grateful to the council for their response, and is waiting on insurance. Our thoughts, as always, are with these victims.

UKDR works with local groups to make sure that all money raised is targeted effectively and fairly. If you would like to donate to UK Disaster Relief then please visit our Charity Givingpage or text UKDR01 with your amount (for example £5) to 70070.

We're compiling a list of what would be needed if all lost in a disaster. For example, school uniform and clothes for an 8 year old; 4 year old; 15 year old.

Be glad to hear what people would consider an appropriate list (eg. do you need 5 changes of clothes? Should children's shoes be Clarks or similar so have to go to a specialist children's shoe shop? If calculating need to eat out, should one take McDonalds or KFC as the standard, or a healthier café option?).

People from the UK Disaster Relief team will be visiting community meetings in Camden and Tottenham this Tuesday as part of our research into the aftermath of the riots. We will be visiting the Tottenham and Seven Sisters Area Forum at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, and the Camden Summit at Kingsgate Community Centre.

Both meetings start at 6.30pm, so if you were affected by the riots, and would like to discuss the help you received, or would just like to give your perspective, please find us at these meetings.

If you're not able to attend, but would still like to talk to us please email info@ukdisasterrelief.org.uk, or call Kieran on 0207 794 9835.

2 September 2011

We would like to say a huge thank you to all of those people who have donated to, or are buying and selling products for UK Disaster Relief. So far, over 500 sellers have agreed to donate a percentage of their sales to UK Disaster Relief, raising lots of money to help people who were affected by last months UK riots.

Money is raised for charities on eBay through MissionFish. When you sell and item, you can choose a listed charity to donate to. You can also search for items which are raising money for charities if you are a buyer, or donate when you reach checkout -plenty of opportunities to help UK Disaster Relief!